143 in a bay boat is asking for trouble. Although many have and will do it there is SOooooo much that can happen and 20 miles offshore is not a place to start yelling for help. You pushed the envelope on that trip. What you caught you could have done closer and may have even put better fish in the boat. Your trolling motor would not even get you to the platform in the courant if something went wrong. I hope you had a working VHF on the boat.
I offer to share knowledge because I do not wish to see people getting into trouble thinking they can just get on the water and go fishing.. I spent 37 years as a FF and 12 of those years involved the fire rescue boat. People are my business not bodies.
I came down here in 2004 with a 100 ton masters and fished waters off Montauk but I got hold of Captain John on the Cougar and Captain Eddie Burger to deckhand so I could learn the waters and how things are done down here. 2012 and 70 years old and I am still learning.
Stay Safe!
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